DETROIT _ The Detroit Tigers were in need of a big hit, and it was Christin Stewart who once again came through on Saturday afternoon.
Stewart, the rookie outfielder who hit a game-winning home run on Opening Day in Toronto, pulled the feat again, blasting a grand slam just inside the foul pole in right field for a 7-4 win over the Royals.
The Tigers have won four straight games.
Stewart's slam capped a five-run seventh inning for the Tigers, who once again had success against the Royals' bullpen. In the seventh, Jordy Mercer led off with a single followed by Josh Harrison drawing a walk. Nicholas Castellanos singled Mercer home before Miguel Cabrera delivered his third hit, nearly scoring Harrison to tie the game.
Third base coach Dave Clark's decision to send Harrison _ which loomed large as the inning wore on _ was disregarded two batters later, when Stewart hit his second home run of the season.
Left-hander Matt Moore started strong but left the game with a right knee sprain after three innings. He was relieved by Daniel Norris, who allowed three runs _ two solo home runs _ in three-plus innings.
The Royals led by two runs before the Tigers' five-run fifth, and Shane Greene picked up his sixth save of the season.
Stewart's early-season slump was not snapped on the home run, but innings earlier. In his first at-bat, he drew a walk. In his second, he blooped a pitch inside three defenders down the left-field line. Later came the big blast, a towering shot just off the foul pole in right field. Stewart has two of the Tigers' three home runs this season.
For the second straight start, Moore came out of the gates dealing. He retired the first eight Royals he faced but with two outs in the third, he tweaked his knee coming off the mound to field a comebacker from speedster Billy Hamilton. Moore scrambled to make the play but threw the ball away and retired the next batter before immediately heading down the tunnel in the Tigers' dugout. After the game, the Tigers placed Moore on the 10-day injured list with a right knee sprain.
With temperatures in the mid-60s in downtown Detroit, the Tigers offense showed real signs of warming up for the first time this season. They were powered by the big bats _ Castellanos and Cabrera each had three hits _ and drew five walks. Their seven runs and 10 hits were the most this season, and they threatened _ and scored _ with ease against Kansas City's below-average pitching staff. The Tigers put the ball in play, striking out only three times.
